Prior Approval in
Richmond upon Thames
A full planning application isn’t always the fastest way to get building work started in Richmond upon Thames. Prior approval covers a specific set of projects, larger extensions, certain change of use conversions, demolition, with the council legally required to decide within a set number of days rather than the usual open-ended timeline.
Get StartedWhat Prior Approval Actually Covers In Richmond upon Thames
Picking the wrong path for a Richmond upon Thames project, treating something as needing full planning permission when prior approval genuinely fits, or vice versa, wastes real time and real money. Nailing the classification early matters more than most people expect.
Each prior approval category in Richmond upon Thames carries its own conditions and its own statutory deadline, generally 42 or 56 days depending on which one applies, with the council’s review confined to specific matters set out in legislation rather than a broad planning assessment.
Confirming eligibility properly comes first for any Richmond upon Thames enquiry, not assuming a project qualifies for prior approval just because it sounds similar to one that does.
Right Route Confirmed
We check prior approval genuinely applies
Statutory Timescale
42 or 56 days, by law
Focused Submission
Built around what’s actually assessed
Fast Turnaround
Applications moved along quickly
How We Help in Richmond upon Thames
Every Richmond upon Thames project starts with confirming which prior approval category genuinely applies, and whether the specific conditions attached to that category are actually met.
From there we prepare a focused submission covering exactly what the council’s entitled to assess, nothing padded out with irrelevant detail that slows things down.
Once submitted, we track the statutory deadline for your Richmond upon Thames project closely, since missing council communication near that date can genuinely matter.
The Careful Approach To Richmond upon Thames Prior Approval
We’d rather confirm honestly that your Richmond upon Thames project doesn’t qualify for prior approval than submit something destined to fail on a technicality.
A rushed or wrongly classified Richmond upon Thames submission loses the whole benefit of this faster route, so accuracy matters as much as speed here.
If your Richmond upon Thames project’s actually a full extension beyond what prior approval covers, we’ll say so honestly and handle it as a proper planning application instead.
Not sure whether your project needs house extension planning permission instead? We check that too, before recommending prior approval as the route.
Get Your Prior Approval Submission Started
Prior Approval FAQs for Richmond upon Thames
What projects actually qualify for prior approval in Richmond upon Thames?
Larger single-storey rear extensions beyond standard permitted development limits, office or commercial to residential conversion under Class MA, agricultural to residential conversion under Class Q, demolition, and larger extensions to industrial or warehouse buildings all use this route in Richmond upon Thames.
How long does a prior approval decision take in Richmond upon Thames?
It depends on the category, 42 days is common for extensions, with 56 days applying to several other prior approval types, Richmond upon Thames’s council must work to whichever deadline genuinely applies.
Can Richmond upon Thames’s council refuse prior approval for any reason they like?
The scope is genuinely limited, Richmond upon Thames’s council assesses only the specific defined matters for that prior approval category, unlike a full application’s broader planning assessment.
What happens if my Richmond upon Thames project doesn’t actually qualify for prior approval?
Absolutely, prior approval not fitting your specific Richmond upon Thames project doesn’t mean the project itself can’t happen, it just means a standard application is the right route.
How does Class MA relate to change of use for Richmond upon Thames properties?
Class MA is specifically about change of use for Richmond upon Thames properties, converting shops, offices, and similar commercial space to residential, a category we also cover in more depth on our change of use planning permission.
Do I pay anything before you confirm my Richmond upon Thames route?
There’s no charge for the initial Richmond upon Thames eligibility check, you’ll know exactly which route applies before committing to anything further.